The Portland daily press., 1887-12-17
TO SAVE THE GIRLS.
Good Work Of the Young Travellers
aid Society of Boston.
Boston Adyertlser.l

NOTICE TO YOUNG HOMENs
The Young Travellers Aid Society employs
matrOn to travel between Newburyport and Bos-
ton TO give information TO young women coming 10
the city. There is danger OF advantage being
taken Of their ignorance, and they are affection
atey warned not TO speak to strangers, but 70 In
0ure for this lady who will wear a badge OF the
Young Travellers Aid Society,
The above printed notice is placed in many
of the stations and in the cars on the east
ern and northern railroads. and this practi-
cal method Of reaching the girls who come to
Boston, ignorant and often without money,
already begins to show good results. The
work of assisting homeless girls was begun
by the Girls Friendly Society. but 1t was felt
by the directors that wider field OF work
than the society could successfully reach was
open, and that society that could reach the
strangers and provide them with homes be-
fore they were placed in the way Of tempta-
ton would accomplish more. With this pur--
pose 1.-THE Young Travellers Aid Society"
was organized, and all northern trains, and
boats from the Provinces, are met by its
matrons, who talk with the girls who have
come, often from good homes, TO seek llyeil-
hood in a city where they are without friends
In conversation with representative OF
The Record one Of these ladies said
Il 20 down every day to Newburyport to
board the train from Canada, and in the
second class car, which Is the most uncom-
Portable place you can imagine, am sure 70
find number Of girls coming to Boston, not
knowing where they are going or how they
are to procure work, some without a cent,
and very few with more than dollar or two:
| talk with them and tell them II they will
come with me will take them 70 comfort;
able place where they will find friends and
employment. They are all anxious to work.
Some will say that they do not wish for char
ity, that they have left as good home as any
one has. In such cases i often wonder why
they did not remain there; but most Of them
come from homes of poverty, and are thrown
upon their own resources for livelihood.
1.-THE day before Thanksgiving l went
down as usual, and while talking with two
young women. who had gratefully accepted
the information had given them. one said:
1 wish you would speak with that girl over
there pointing to very pretty girl not more
than 16. Invent over and spoke with her.
Are you the lady who tells girls where to go?
she asked, told her was and she said:
Il want to 60 with you; am with girl who
has promised to get me work in factory and
has taken all my money; but am afraid to
go with her.
II told her she could come with me. Just
then her companion returned. She was
dressed in rather loud way, and upon hear
ing that the girl was going with me-, looked
surprised and asked where. When the train
reached Boston the younger girl said: 4
want my money. She has all my money,
and looked IOr ueT COupdulOu, VIII Wdo
being warmly greeted by woman in a seal
skin cloak, who came toward us and said
Come with me; / said the girl was coming
with me, but could not get her money for
her.
within the last three weeks over SO girls
have been met and assisted to respectable
boarding places or to permanent work, and
during September and October nearly twice
that number"
on the boats the stewardess often is OF
great service to the girls telling them lof the
places where they can obtain assistance.
and when the boat reaches the wharf placing
them in charge Of the matrons. All possible
means are taken to care for and protect them
and the good thus accomplished is almost be-
y0nd belief.
Many sad and pitiful stories are related to
the matrons. Some of the girls think they
are sure to obtain work in few hours after
their arrival. In some cases the efforts OF
the matron are useless, but generally the
strangers receive the help gratefully. The
railroad officials encourage. the movement,
and give much valuable assistance. IL Is
work which should receive the hearty CO.
operation and support of the public.